GWatson Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 As some of you may know I am selling the Westfield and my other car to buy a day to day roadster. Having made my mind up on the Z4 3.0 having test driving S2000 and TT (yuk) my mate kindly pointed this out this morining. Anyone driven one or even seen one in the flesh.... looks very very nice. See Here G Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 Well I reckon the looks are an acquired taste.....but you seem to have acquired them!! There's not many about.....unlike the others on your list, which is nice. Its not a sports car though. Cruiser ? yes. Interior is a bit dodgy - silver sprayed plastic.... . Make sure you get at the right price as I'd be doubtful as to how well it will hold its value.....could get to look old hat IYSWIM.... Underneath its a Merc SLK (old shape) so mechanicals should be pretty sound... As a comfy, posing cruiser, that looks different, I reckon it could be OK! HTH Quote
GWatson Posted June 23, 2005 Author Posted June 23, 2005 hmm... having read this perhaps not. Like Chrysler’s latest saloon, the 300C, the Crossfire convertible is constructed largely from unwanted Mercedes leftovers. The 300C owes its existence to the old E-class, the Crossfire to the previous generation of the SLK. It may not share a single body panel and its roof is fabric, not steel, but its engine, gearbox, chassis and suspension are all pure old SLK. This means power comes from a 3.2 litre V6 engine no longer used in the current SLK and is fed through a clunky six-speed manual (not the snappy new gearbox the SLK now enjoys) to the rear wheels. Therefore, the five-speed automatic, which costs £1,240 extra, is an option that should be regarded as compulsory. The hood is electric and stows neatly out of sight, but its presence in the boot reduces carrying capacity to almost comically small proportions. The result is an attractive-looking car, but one that lacks the strikingly individual lines of the coupé. The driving experience fulfils the promise of those looks to the letter. The engine only puts out 218bhp but it’s strong throughout the rev range, enough to take the Crossfire to 62mph in 6.5sec and onto 150mph. This means you never have to work hard to access the power. The engine emits a pleasant — that word again — snarl without giving the impression it’s ever going to be more than mildly enthusiastic about its work. And even if you wring its neck, that’s how it stays: deferential, compliant, easy and slightly boring. There is, however, some real enjoyment in the corners. The Crossfire’s creators are to be commended for losing so little of the coupé’s rigidity when they chopped the roof off, meaning the stable platform without which no suspension can work properly has been largely retained. With its hefty rear tyres the Crossfire will tackle corners at speeds that would have been available only to extreme sports cars 10 years ago, and with traction control, an electronic stability control system and resolutely benign manners it would take a big mistake or near-suicidal recklessness before it let you get into trouble. Sadly, however, that’s where the enjoyment ceases. Those who may have driven a Porsche Boxster or BMW Z4 and approach this car hoping to become at one wih the road will be disappointed. The fault lies with the steering, an old-fashioned recirculating ball arrangement. It’s precise enough but the feel that is the hallmark of true sports cars is lacking. The truth is that the Crossfire convertible is not a very sporting car and will be bought more for the way it looks than the way it goes. A BMW Z4 uses its appearance to lure you in but it is the driving experience that snares you; the Crossfire is the reverse — if the styling doesn’t get you, it’s unlikely that peering further into its character is going to locate what you’re looking for. Despite its shape and name, this car is more tourer than tearaway and, for a soft top, is notably refined with the roof up. Tall drivers will find legroom uncomfortably tight but everyone else should slip easily into the Crossfire way of doing things: affording maximum exposure to admiring glances for minimum effort. But is that enough these days, given that potential customers may be reluctant to eschew Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and Audi for a comparatively homespun badge? The Crossfire costs £27,995 for the manual, with an impressive list of standard equipment, undercutting both the 3.2 litre Audi TT Roadster and BMW Z4 3.0. But if looks alone matter, isn’t the TT more attractive? And for those interested in handling, the SLK, Boxster and Z4 offer more. With such opposition mere good looks and an indefatigably pleasant character may not be quite enough. Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 hmm... having read this perhaps not. Well I think that's pretty much what I said.................in a lot less words/lines...... Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 Nissan 350z Roadster Now you're talking......although not convinced over the styling..... Quote
Bananaman Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 How bout one of these, it's a truck & a Roadster & I've NEVER seen one B4 390 hp 6.0 L LS2 V8 engine that generates 405 lb.-ft. of torque Chevrolet SSR Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 How bout one of these, it's a truck & a Roadster & I've NEVER seen one B4 390 hp 6.0 L LS2 V8 engine that generates 405 lb.-ft. of torque Chevrolet SSR Actually saw one on Saturday in the car park of one of our DIY "sheds". It did look .......in yellow.....of course!! Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 How about a Boxter 3.2S ? Common as muck................ Great car though....much prefer the new styling - subtle change but makes a big difference in the metal. Quote
GWatson Posted June 23, 2005 Author Posted June 23, 2005 I seriously looked at the S2000 and Z4 and the Z4 is a much better all rounder, if I was just replacing thr Westy then it would be a S2000, good for a thrash but hard work to make decent progress on a country road. As for the Boxster, nah, I appreciate they are a great car but not for my, not keen on the looks to be honest or the engine noise. I only have around £23-24K to spend max, that will get me an 18 month Z4 with 10K miles or a 5 year old 3.2S with 40K on it. Quote
Bananaman Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 Z4 3.0 is a good car & interesting looking, simmilar performance to Box S. So if you can get one 3 years newer for the same money then it's a no brainer IMHO.. Quote
chrisbin Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 Z4 3.0 is a good car & interesting looking, simmilar performance to Box S. So if you can get one 3 years newer for the same money then it's a no brainer IMHO.. Agreed - sounds like the original choice was the right one!! Quote
Blatman Posted June 23, 2005 Posted June 23, 2005 Does it have to be that new/expensive? What about the Z3M Coupe? Quote
GWatson Posted June 23, 2005 Author Posted June 23, 2005 No doesn't have to be, but it does have to be a roadster with a decent 6 cylinder engine G Quote
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